Hello there.I've had my Hi-Jet Van aka.. 'Sooty' for 8 months now and it's so much of a laugh to drive.

I bought the van as a long lost replacement for an old Transit from many years ago. It came to a point where I needed a van, but I needed a small hightop van, as the transit always took up too much room on the drive of many cars. So far it has surpassed all expectations in how much I can carry in it. My record is 50 1.5 metre traffic cones and all sorts of equipment, for setting up an Autosolo at Newton-le-willows show for a motor club I'm a member of. It got used as a camper and set-up van, for our motorclub's Stage Rally at Anglesey. And has also carried many of my Radio Controlled boats to and from the local boating lake. I have plans on making removable boxes for different applications. E.g. Camper, carrying tools, boat racks, mates to - and from pub.

Hopefully I'll pick up some guidance on here on how to look after my van. I've already fell short of, or rather they fell off, a knackered propshaft, wobbly mirrors, and Exhaust silencer. The van has had a bit of a hard life but no rot. To me he's a cracking little workhorse who needs a bit of TLC.

I have been getting brave in doris and so far she has not lifted a wheel, worse i have had is tailgate popped open in a drag against a focus st which i won (suspected he was laughing too hard) and scary understeer(tracking out) i live in MK and as most prob know MK is just a grid with roundabouts every 2.1/2inchs so complete hijet playground (not that i do that sort of thing on public roads officer)

I had a similar thing happen to me two weeks ago --- booted it uphill and up popped my Tailgate ( or Giant Spoiler -- like that one Rich ) and out popped a couple of toolboxes

The car behind screamed a to a halt avoiding my toolboxes thank goodness avoiding damage and insurance claims. The spring in the catch mechanism had broken and tailgate wasn't shut.Close escape and as was night time he didn't see my rather red face.